AFL 2024: GWS coach Adam Kingsley responds to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas’ strong Gather Round claim

Having spent a large chunk of his career in SA with Port Adelaide, GWS coach Adam Kingsley knows how it works. So, what did he think of the premier’s latest dig at Sydney?

Giants coach Adam Kingsley believes that if the AFL’s main goal is to grow the sport around the country, Gather Round should eventually come to New South Wales.

His comments come in response to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas’ strong claim that Gather Round would not have worked in Sydney.

Recalling his initial conversations with then AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, Mr Malinauskas shared his belief that having the first Gather Round in NSW could have ruined the concept.

“I told him (McLachlan) the truth – I said I’ll say no to it because, after year one, it’ll be dog sh*t,” Mr Malinauskas said on the Dyl and Friends podcast. “You’ll go to Sydney and you’re gonna have Brisbane versus Freo in a stadium and I’ll be able to count on one hand how many people are there.”

Kingsley has spoken openly across the past year about the need for more initiatives to help grow the game in the northern states, particularly in the diverse Western Sydney region. This year’s inaugural Opening Round concept saw two sold out games in three days in Sydney, the Sydney-Melbourne season opener and the Giants-Pies preliminary final rematch.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, left, labelled a potential first Gather Round in Sydney as ‘dog sh*t’. Picture: Dean Martin

And although he was happy to concede that Gather Round has been a successful venture in Adelaide, the Giants coach suggested it was important to reflect on what the goal of the weekend actually is.

“It just depends on what the priorities are at head office, really,” Kingsley said.

“If they want to make money and they want to have their record attendances and all that sort of stuff, then Gather Round in Adelaide is fantastic. There’s no question about that.

“If their ambition is to grow the game and try to tap into a market that is currently untapped, then I think Sydney is the option. And then it just becomes a matter of priorities at head office and it’s far from me to determine what their priority is or should be.”

Having spent a large chunk of his playing and coaching career in South Australia with Port Adelaide, Kingsley was wary not to be drawn into a war of words when quizzed about the Premier talking down the success of footy in NSW.

However, he felt that the success of the Opening Round concept in Sydney this year proved that there is an appetite towards marquee AFL events in the city.

Kingsley believes there would be a lot to gain by having a marquee weekend of AFL games in Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

“If you ask South Australians, they have animosity towards Victorians and West Australians and everyone. So it’s not a big deal, I don’t think,” Kingsley said.

“We’ve got plenty of opportunities to showcase our game up here. Opening Round this year I thought was a fantastic initiative. We packed it out, brought the game to a different audience and that’s what we need to continue to do. Come up with little things like that will help grow our game and turn it into the most important game in the country.

“It’s neck and neck at the moment, and we need to jump above the other sports.”

The AFL has currently locked in a deal with the South Australian government to host the next two Gather Rounds. However, reports have suggested the league is looking at hosting multiple similar rounds across the country in future seasons.

NEED FOR SPEED TO INSPIRE GIANTS TO TAKE DOWN BLUES

If Adam Kingsley has his way against Carlton this weekend, the Giants will have the need. The need for speed.

Thursday’s main training at Engie Stadium was an intense session for the GWS players with Kingsley incredibly vocal in demanding match-like standards from his players.

For at least the last 20 minutes, the Giants’ first-choice midfield was put through its paces in a drill simulating movingthe ball off halfback into their forward 50. If any player hesitated, they were quick to be told off by the second-year coach. If forwards were not leading with intensity or finding open space, Kingsley would call them out.

While the session left some frustrated with connections still not quite clicking, by the end, there were signs of the clinical, efficient ball movement that the Giants have become known for.

Kingsley admitted afterwards that speed wasn’t necessarily a part of the game he felt they had been lacking. But it’s the consistency at making the most of their inside 50s where he wants to see some improvement against the Blues on Saturday.

Aaron Cadman is likely to make his way back into the GWS side after five goals in the VFL. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

The Giants are still buoyant about their premiership chances despite only winning two of their past eight matches. And their coach was confident that it’s not win or bust this weekend against Carlton.

“I’ve been reasonably pleased with our ability to re-establish that part of our game,” he said. “It’s just the finish now that we need to tidy up.

“There were a few different things we need to get better at. But the main one is our ability to score. We’re generating enough inside 50s, but we’re not finishing our work.

“I’m more focused on re-establishing our brand as opposed to trying to make finals or trying to win premierships at this point in time. If we play the way we want to play, the score will take care of itself.”

But it’s not going to stop them from making a raft of changes as they look to get back into the winner’s circle.

Aaron Cadman and Darcy Jones both look set to return. Cadman kicked five goals and Jones two in the Giants’ VFL win over Southportlast weekend, and will both provide a much-needed boost of energy to a struggling forward line.

Jake Riccardi and Callum Brown were both training with the reserves on Thursday, but it’s unlikely both will be dropped, especially with Riccardi’s ability to pinch-hit in the ruck. Josh Kelly is the one confirmed out, while it’s like Cadman will replace second-gamer Max Gruzewski.

Darcy Jones looks likely to return for GWS this weekend. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

“(Cadman and Jones) in the past two weeks have been really strong in the VFL,” Kingsley said. “Cads has been dominating in the air and competing well, Jones has been really strong at ground level and providing pressure.

“It’s really trying to tidy up our decision-making and our options ahead of the ball more than personnel. The personnel we’ve had there, except for Harvey (Thomas), have been the same as what we were early this year or late last year when we were able to score.

“We have faith in all our guys to be able to turn it around. It’s just a matter of do we try and do it at AFL level, or do we send one or two players back like we did Cadman a couple of weeks ago to recapture some form?

“The contest element I’ve spoken about regularly this year, we’ve got to try and improve that. It is a strength of Carlton’s, particularly in their back half, so we’re gonna get challenged with that. We’ve got to be able to win the ball.”

Kingsley also confirmed that Toby Bedford is likely to be handed another tagging role against the Blues.

While he had some success against Jordan Dawson last weekend, the Giants were criticised for not putting him on the dangerous Izak Rankine.

Sam Walsh stands out as the obvious choice, especially after James Jordon’s impressive job in the Swans’ win over Carlton.

Jones’s return also means that the Giants’ forward line isn’t losing as much speed and pressure as a result of Bedford’s run-withrole.

Originally published as AFL 2024: GWS coach Adam Kingsley responds to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas’ strong Gather Round claim